November 21, 2014 | Written by Laura J. Mazel

Challenging Republicans to pass reasonable reform in 2015 to supersede his executive action, and underscoring the importance to allow certain individuals the opportunity to “get right with the law,” President Obama on November 20 exercised his prosecutorial discretion and announced two deferred action initiatives that will protect about 4.4 undocumented individuals. According to a White House briefing on November 20, which representatives of our American Immigration Lawyers Association attended, the following individuals will be eligible for deferred action in as soon as 90 days, and for a period of 3 years:

Parents of U.S. citizens and permanent residents who have been continuously present since January 1, 2010 and who pass background checks and pay taxes; and

Students, known as “Dreamers” who can show continuous presence since January 1, 2010. [The previous age limit was 30.]

Note: there will be no deferred action initiative for parents of Dreamers.